Interislander

It comes as Cook Strait ferry crossings have been cancelled as Cyclone Gabrielle heads south.

"It was quickly back to normal speed and is its way to Picton via the Northern Entrance. Interislander general manager Walter Rushbrook said the decision was to ensure the safety of travellers and staff. We will be investigating the cause of the issue.

Crew eventually restarted engines and the ferry is now taking the northern route through the Marlborough Sounds.

[Kaitaki](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/131104625/fault-behind-kaitaki-ferry-failing-identified-interislander-confirms) lost power, the ship’s cooling system failed on a crossing from Picton to the capital. “We lost electrical power for a few minutes when the engine died. [“the outcome could have been much worse.”](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/131214856/considerable-amount-of-good-fortune-got-kaitaki-ferry-back-to-port-harbourmaster) After restarting the engines on reduced power, the ferry arrived in Wellington [just over three hours after it was scheduled to](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/131092700/how-a-lateholiday-cook-strait-crossing-turned-perilous). [Cook Strait ferry returns to service after 'abnormal vibrations'](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/300443125/cook-strait-ferry-returns-to-service-after-abnormal-vibrations?rm=a) [Interislander ferry crawls back to shore after losing power](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/131090968/interislander-ferry-crawls-back-to-shore-after-losing-power?rm=a) The scheduled departure back to Wellington was 8.40pm but was now due to leave at 10.30pm. He said a tracker showed the ship was now full steam ahead back to a normal 16.5 to 17 knots. The ship was “quickly back to normal speed”, he said. [Kaitaki, lost power and was adrifting towards the south coast of Wellington ](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/131104625/fault-behind-kaitaki-ferry-failing-identified-interislander-confirms)until its anchors caught. [Broken Cook Strait ferry drifted a nautical mile towards rocks](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/131092724/broken-cook-strait-ferry-drifted-a-nautical-mile-towards-rocks?rm=a) After the ferry Aratere slowed to almost a stop, the ship returned to regular speed, diverting to the northern entrance of Picton going the full length of the Queen Charlotte Sounds.

An electrical fault caused the Interislander's Aratere ferry to briefly break down in Cook Strait and drift while en route to Picton last night.

There is a lot of maintenance that goes on on the ships. It travelled a short distance down the Marlborough Sounds before a decision was made to turn back because of forecast bad weather. “However, the decision is not made by us alone. It will sail as a freight-only ship for its first voyage back into service. Nalder said the Kaitaki situation was a known risk and the risk remained unchanged. As a precaution, the ferry went around the northern entrance of the Marlborough Sounds, which was standard procedure, Nalder said.